Museveni in Juba for SPLM reunification meeting

President Museveni arrives at J1 where he was received by his South Sudan counterpart Salva Kiir on Thursday: COURTESY PHOTOS

President Yoweri Museveni on Thursday traveled to South Sudan capital Juba for the opening of the fourth meeting of the National Liberation Council of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement, SPLM.
Mr Museveni was received at the State House J1 in June by his counterpart President Salva Kiir Mayardit.

President Kiir, who doubles as chairman of the SPLM party, called for convening of the 4th SPLM National Liberation Council in Juba to reunify all fragmented factions of the historical party.

President Museveni has remained a close ally of the reigning regime in the warring neighbour country, often times calling on the people of South Sudan to embrace unity in order to develop.

The President with his host, President Salva Kiir.

Mr Museveni was last in Juba in 2016 at the invitation of President Salva Kiir, to attend the launch of South Sudan’s National dialogue and swearing in of the process’ steering committee members.

The launch of the National Dialogue, just like the Thursday meeting was held at the Freedom Hall in Juba.

South Sudan gained independence from Sudan on 9 July 2011 as the outcome of a 2005 agreement that ended Africa’s longest-running civil war.

The country however fell back into a civil war two years later in December 2013 when forces loyal to then First Vice President Riek Machar clashed with government forces.

President Museveni arrives in South Sudan’s capital Juba this morning to attend SPLM’s Liberation Council meetings (COURTESY PHOTO)

The clashes led to a long protracted civil war that has left thousands displaced causing one of the world’s biggest refugee crisis.

Again in 2016, Mr Museveni, who has remained instrumental in reuniting the warring factions of the South Sudan government, met some of South Sudan’s former political detainees led by Rebecca Nyandeng, the widow of the fallen freedom fighter Dr John Garang.

After the meeting, Mr Museveni posted on his social media platforms that they discussed unitying different political groups in the world’s youngest nation.